I have some good news and some bad Which do you want to hear?
The way we answer tells a lot. Hopefully we want to hear good news, simply because it is a joy to hear and uplifting to the spirit. But sometimes we want to hear the bad news first. Why is that?
Maybe its because we want to be warned well ahead of time
because we have learned the importance of preparation in dealing with
problems. But maybe its because we have
learned to find a certain comfort in bad news.
It’s might be a form of confirmation bias or social validation. It causes us to take delight even in the bad
news about others, because it often brings some sort of social benefit to
ourselves.
If we are looking for evidence to confirm our belief that
the world is dangerous and unfair, or that most people are worse sinners than ourselves,
or that the people on the other side are truly evil, or that the rich and
famous really aren’t happy, then we might actually prefer the bad news. In this case, bad news has actually become “good”
to us, something we look forward to hearing.
Scandal, corruption, violence, even news that we suspect might be fake
become ways to confirm our beliefs about the world and other people, and the
pleasure of doing so makes us overlook the brokenness and pain the people
involved are experiencing. It makes us forget
that they too are fellow human beings also made in God’s image.
But the Bible says bad news is bad news, and we need to see
it as such. Isaiah 5:20 tells us “Woe to
those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light
for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!” Maybe this refers to believers also. Isn’t that what we do when we rejoice in the
misfortunes of others, choose to believe negative conspiracy theories, and hold
on to the latest dark rumors?
I was out to share the good news of the gospel with a world
that seems intent on denying, distorting, or ignoring it. I had a long conversation at the coffeeshop
with a man named Max, and as we talked it seemed obvious to both of us that we
have very opposite beliefs about religion.
Max has turned from his Catholic upbringing to more of an eastern
spirituality. Talking with him didn’t
confirm my biases in favor of Christianity.
In fact, it challenged many of my deeply-held beliefs, and this is by no
means comfortable.
But Jesus calls us to step out of our comfort zone, so I
stepped out of mine and into that coffeeshop after work. It’s not easy to sit and sort of bite my
tongue while listening to the opposing beliefs of another person, which is what
I did for pretty much the first half of our time. The second half was more a discussion where
we listened to and respected one another’s differing beliefs, and I believe
this wouldn’t have been possible without my first demonstrating that I am
willing and able to listen to all sides of an issue. As we discussed arguments for and against
Christianity, we also talked about our human tendency toward confirmation bias,
and we both acknowledged that it affects our level of faith or skepticism
toward different kinds of evidence.
Believe it or not, however, some types of confirmation bias
can be a good thing according to scripture.
In Hebrews, we are told to “hold unswervingly to the hope we
profess”. How? By “…not giving up meeting together, as some
are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you
see the Day approaching.”
It is, after all, gratifying to hear that others agree with ourselves
and confirm our deeply-held beliefs. In
a world that is increasingly disagreeing with our Christian beliefs and values,
we need a place to go where those beliefs are upheld, cherished, and applauded,
a place where we can receive a little confirmation bias of our own. Not only are we told to hang around people
who will confirm our biases – the hopes and beliefs we desperately want to hold
on to - but we are also told to do so “all the more” as we see “the Day” – the end
times – approaching.
As we find ourselves as believers in an increasingly secular
society, its okay and necessary to actively seek to build ourselves up through
the encouragement of like-minded believer.
But let’s keep it positive, and not try to build ourselves up by seeing
others get torn down. In Philippians,
Paul gives us good advice on discerning the news: “Finally, brothers and sisters,
whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or
praiseworthy—think about such things.”
Our focus should be on the good news, but I do believe we
need to be aware of and understand the negative issues all around us. I think of it a part of our peripheral vision. We know it’s there and we keep an eye on it,
but it is not to be our focus. We need
to choose the Good News first.
Thanks, Max, for allowing me to record our
conversation. It can be viewed on my YouTube
channel HERE
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